The University Magazine

Letters

Tiger fans made a big impression in Detroit

We attended both days of the Division I NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Tournament in Detroit on April 8-10, 2010, and we would like to commend the actions of your students (especially the student cheering section) during the Frozen Four tournament.

They were the loudest section of the four schools competing in the event even though the other schools had more fan representation.

Once RIT was eliminated from play, the students continued to cheer for the other teams, cheering like they were RIT.

We left the championship game in laughter when we heard the cheer from your student section, cheering “At least we scored” to the Wisconsin fans. (RIT lost to Wisconsin 8-1 in the semi-final game; Wisconsin lost to Boston College 5-0 in the championship game.)

Please thank your students for us. We really enjoyed seeing them having so much fun.

We wish you, RIT, and your wonderful students the best of luck.

Eric and Cheryl Krause Albion, Mich.

George Owen ’69 remembered

From left are George Owen, ‘69, Jim Baker, ‘71, and Bob Burkhard ‘71

As the Men’s Hockey team was having extraordinary success this year in the playoffs, one of the early members of the team passed away. George Owen ’69 (business administration) died on March 30, between the time the team won in Albany and when they played in Michigan in the Frozen Four.

A memorial service was organized in Rochester by his sister, some close friends, and a few of George’s old teammates. Anyone who knew George has a story to tell about his generosity, friendliness and willingness to help others. We all stood around and told old stories and laughed and cried and often said that he would like to be here for the service, mingling with the mourners. George had an opinion on everything and could talk intelligently to anyone about anything. It was George’s kind of get-together.

I played on the hockey team with George back in the late ’60s, so I was fortunate to get to know him and call him a friend. George was an amazing guy who touched the lives of many people and we are better for it. I don’t know anybody who had the varied background and experiences that George had.

LettersHis formal education was in business and accounting but I don’t think he ever worked in that field. Instead, he built interstate highways, operated heavy equipment, cooked for a local catering house, drove a tractor trailer rig and cooked for The Grateful Dead when they toured the U.S., operated his own fishing guide service, operated his own diner, and, more than anything, made people smile.

At the memorial program, we all decided that it would be fun to get as many members of the old teams together and attend an RIT hockey game in his honor. We thought that the opening game on Oct. 16 at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester, part of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend, might be a good time for the reunion. Its also early enough in the season that we don’t have to worry about the weather too much.

If you are interested in getting together for a reunion, an exciting RIT game, some “George story” telling, reminiscing about the old days, and honoring our good friend George, contact me, Bob Burkhard, or Jim Baker at the e-mail addresses given below. If you have addresses for any of the old players, please pass this information along to them or send their addresses to us.

Regarding the “Who is Cinderella?” photo from the RIT Archives that accompanied the “Brothers and Sisters” article in the winter 2009-10 issue, I believe the student in the center is Robert Spinney ’56 (printing).

I graduated the first time from RIT with an associate’s degree in printing in November 1951. In 1952-54, I was drafted into the U.S. Army and returned to RIT and graduated with a B.S. degree in printing in November 1955. Robert Spinney and I are in the 1955 Techmilla on page 72 and 62. My class was the first to graduate from RIT with B.S. degrees in printing.

Robert F. Breese ’51, ’55 (printing) Greencastle, Ind.

We welcome letters on subjects covered in the magazine and of broad interest to our readers. We edit for space, clarity, and style. Write to The University Magazine, University News Services, Rochester Institute of Technology, 132 Lomb Memorial Drive – Bldg. 86, Rochester, NY 14623. E-mail can be sent to umagwww@rit.edu.